Ozarks' Nietert earns weekly honorUniversity of the Ozarks senior guard Lindsey Nietert was named the American Southwest Conference women's basketball East Division Player of the Week after averaging 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game to lead the Lady Eagles to a 3-0 mark in ASC play. With an undefeated ASC record during the week, Nietert's play put the Lady Eagles (5-2, 3-1) in a first-place tie for the East Division lead. The 5-8 native of Branch,...

Skinner earns honorCourier sports staff Arkansas Tech senior cornerback Quincy Skinner was recently named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region football team. Skinner, a transfer from Florida Atlantic who played just one season at Tech, was a second-team selection. He was also selected to the Gulf South Conference second team earlier this month. Skinner led Tech with eight interceptions this season, which tied him for first in the GSC and ranke...

Tech baseball has busy DecemberCourier sports staff Arkansas Tech head baseball coach Billy Goss recently announced his program is scheduled to host its second annual "Evening with Tech Baseball" dinner and silent auction Saturday. The event will be held at the Russellville First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall with festivities scheduled to begin a 6 p.m. and serving starting at 6:30 p.m. "All the money raised will go towards enhancing our baseball program here at Arkansas T...

North Alabama squeaks by Tech menRyan Casey McShane For the Courier The Arkansas Tech men battled North Alabama right down to the final basket Monday night. Unfortunately for Tech, that final basket went to the Lions. A jumper by Kenny Johnson with 8 seconds remaining gave the visitors a 79-78 win over the Wonder Boys (1-5) in the home debut of first-year head coach Mark Downey. "The team doesn't know how to win yet," Downey said. "If we just shoot free throws, we win it toni...

Tech men, women on road todayCourier sports staff After a week-long break, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team will return to the court today for a non-conference matchup at Northeastern (Okla.) State in Tahlequah, Okla. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the game can be heard locally on KCAB-AM 980. The Wonder Boys (1-3) will look to build off last weekend's trip to Fort Myers, Fla., where they competed at the Hillmyer-Tremont Tipoff Classic. Tech played three games...

Thinking about bowls, wondering about 'BamaStraight from the Press By Danny Scott Sports Editor Mere moments after Arkansas lost to LSU a week ago, I found myself mulling over the Hogs' bowl prospects. An at-large BCS bid is out of the question. The Tigers claimed that for themselves. Now it appears the Hogs will be spending New Year's in New Orleans, Orlando or Dallas. Any of those destinations would be more attractive than Shreveport - no offense, Shreveport - which is where most wer...

Schaefer's Suns trying to balance talent, youthBy Danny Scott Sports Editor Before the regular season began, Arkansas Tech women's basketball coach Todd Schaefer felt he had a talented, if inexperienced, group on his hands. Four games into the schedule, his opinion hasn't changed much. "I think we're right where I thought we'd be [at this point in the season]," Schaefer said. "We're just trying to get better day to day." Schaefer and his squad recently hosted the Holiday Inn / PDQ Thanksgi...

Tech volleyball signs two playersCourier sports staff Arkansas Tech volleyball coach Kristy Kale announced the signing of two players Wednesday, according to a release obtained by The Courier. Sarah Von Lienen, a 6-2 middle blocker from Memphis, Tenn., and Leah Mitchell, a 6-1 outside hitter / middle blocker from Alma, both signed national letters of intent during the early signing period, according to the release. Kale said she is excited about the addition of these two play...

Wonder Boys catching on, Downey saysBy Danny Scott Sports Editor The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team picked up its first win under head coach Mark Downey this past weekend during the Hillmyer-Tremont Tipoff Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. But Downey said Saturday's 81-71 win over Palm Beach Atlantic had less to do with getting the first win of his career and more to do with getting the first win of the season. "It wasn't really about me," he said. "It was more important for our ...

Wonder Boys get first winBy Ben Greenberg Arkansas Tech SID Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Basketball concluded play Sunday in the Fifth Annual Hillmyer-Tremont Classic with an 86-80 loss to the tournament's host team, Florida Gulf Coast (FGCU), in front of 1,237 fans at Alico Arena. Tech (1-3), trailed 41-20 at halftime, but used a 60-point second half scoring outburst to nearly steal away a win from the home team. In fact, in the second half, both teams combined to score...

Ryan Skell named to d3kicks.com All-Region teamBy Josh Peppas Ozarks SID The University of the Ozarks men's basketball team overcame a 45-37 halftime deficit and rallied to a 86-74 victory over Howard Payne University on Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference action. Trailing by eight points at intermission, Ozarks (2-2, 1-0) clamped down defensively, holding the Yellow Jackets (0-3, 0-1) to just 12 points through the first 15 minutes of the second half. Ozarks forward Habeeb ...

Eagles pick up cnference win; Lady Eagles fallBy Josh Peppas Ozarks SID University of the Ozarks senior midfielder Ryan Skelly was named to the d3kicks.com all-central region second team, announced by d3kicks.com editor Elliot Spruell. Skelly, a 5-7, 145-pound native of Plano, Texas, finished 10th in the American Southwest Conference in points (22) and fourth in assists (8). He started in all 21 matches for Ozarks and ended the season ranked second on the team in goals (7), shots (52) and...

Arkansas Tech SIDBy Ben Greenberg Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball concluded the Holiday Inn/PDQ Classic on Saturday with a 60-46 hard-fought win over Southwestern Oklahoma at Tucker Coliseum. Tech never trailed against the Lady Bulldogs as they scored the game's first six points and then survived a 6 minute scoreless drought in the second half to earn the victory and improve to 2-2 on the season. "Defensively, we played a whole lot better tonight and that...

Golden Suns can't overcome early deficitBy Danny Scott Sports Editor The Arkansas Tech women dug an early hole they couldn't quite climb out of Friday, falling 58-49 to Central Missouri on the first day of the Holiday Inn / PDQ Classic at Tucker Coliseum. The Golden Suns (1-1) trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half despite shooting 42.1 percent from the field to just 37.5 percent for Central Missouri. The Jennies (2-1) made up the difference by cleaning the offensive glas...

Wonder Boys fall in FloridaCourier sports staff The Arkansas Tech men committed 39 turnovers and lost 69-58 to Puerto-Rico Bayamon on Friday at the Hillmyer-Tremont Tipoff Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Wonder Boys (0-2), still seeking their first win under head coach Mark Downey, never led Friday but were able to stay in the game despite the turnovers, which led to 34 points for Puerto-Rico Bayamon (1-1). Tech fell behind 20-9 in the game's first 7 minutes but rallied...

Beard's layup seals OT win for EaglesCourier sports staff CLARKSVILLE - Ted Beard's steal and layup in the final seconds of overtime secured an 83-81 win for the University of the Ozarks men's basketball team in their home opener Tuesday against Rust College (Miss.). Trailing 81-79 with 1:31 remaining, Ozarks' Clint McHenry scored with 31 seconds on the clock to tie the game 81-81. The Eagles then forced a turnover, allowing Beard to race down the court for the game-winning layup...

Ozarks basketball teams thinking playoffsCourier sports staff CLARKSVILLE -- University of the Ozarks head men's basketball coach Matt O'Connor faces the unenviable task of replacing four starters, but the sixth-year coach does return one of the league's most productive players. The Eagles graduated five seniors, including four starters, from a team that ended the regular season second in the American Southwest Conference East Division and earned a spot in the playoffs for the second...

Suns open season tonight in OklahomaBy Ben Greenberg Arkansas Tech SID Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball is set to open its 30th season of competition tonight when it travels to Edmond, Okla., to compete in the four-team University of Central Oklahoma Classic. Tech will open the tournament against East Central (Okla.) University at 6 p.m. and then conclude play at 3 p.m. Saturday against the host school, Central Oklahoma. The Golden Suns enter the 2006-07 season looking to co...